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The new dress code policy had students on edge after learning the new criteria. Students are reacting both negatively and positively as the school year is beginning. Those who dislike the changes say it’s too strict, yet others say it doesn’t affect how they dress anyways and is meant to help, others are so confused they couldn’t make any comments on the matter. It all started on September 4th when the new rules made official, the administration hopes that students can be mature enough to handle the changes, but as seen in recent events they aren’t handling it well.

Ms. Richards-Kong, Bingham’s new principal, is a strong advocate of the dress code. She said that The goal of having a school dress code policy isn’t to make students uncomfortable or look ugly, on the contrary, it’s to help them feel more comfortable, be able to focus more on academics, and practice being a little more professional. Ms. Richards-Kongs said, “When I talk to industry… one of the biggest things they’ve been telling us is people don’t know how to dress for work anymore. When you guys go out for a job I want you to get the job and I want you to be competitive… that’s why I’m stressing this [dress code] because that’s part of career readiness.”

Although the administration went about explaining the dress code to everybody at an assembly on September 4, 2013, there is still some confusion about what falls under the policy and what doesn’t. This is most likely due to rumors, and false information being spread. Many students are confused on what is considered a ‘bad legging,’ and ‘how short is too short?’ Ms. Richards-Kong said mostly what they have emphasized is the fit of clothes, nothing so tight that you can tell what gender the person is, and no dresses that are sliding off your body or that have a low front or back.

Naturally, there has been a lot of emphasis on what isn’t allowed under the new policy, but there have actually been a lot of changes that loosen up the dress code, Ms. Richards-Kong said that they have actually loosened up more on the dress code. For example, in the old dress code distressed jeans were prohibited, but this year students can wear distressed jeans so long as the distressing isn’t just one huge hole in the side of their pants, and skin can’t be seen above mid-thigh level.

According to Ms. Richards-Kong, all changes were made with good intentions and she is more than willing to answer any questions students may have. She said, “I love when students come and talk to me about things they have concerns about.”

While the dress code was intended to help students, not all agree with the new policy. Many students have said the dress code and enforcement have gotten out of hand and become too strict. Jackson Aubrey, a senior, said, “I think [the dress code] is stupid because they’re going beyond JSD’s dress code standards. They’re being really strict.”

Some students have completely ignored the dress code policy, wearing what they want, then running or hiding when any hall monitor or administrator comes near.

The biggest complaint heard so far is that enforcement of the dress code has become too nit-picky. “[The administration] gets on students for little things,” said Jackson, “my sister got in trouble for having shorts barely above her knee, and I got in trouble for having my shirt off for maybe ten seconds at a dance.”

Senior Mattee Aubry said, “I didn’t actually get dress coded, the VP just said that my shorts were cute, but I could never wear them again… The shorts weren’t even that short, they were barely above my knee, even when I was sitting down.” Accounts such as these have students clenching their jaws.

Due to student’s frustration with the new policy some students have started testing its boundaries. Bingham recently had its Welcome Back Neon Stomp. As many as 15 kids were turned away or kicked out of the dance. One of the punished due to dress policy was Jordan Evans. Like Jack, Jordan had been part of the group of friends who decided to take their shirts off during the dance. The group did just that, and all ran out of the school shirtless. While his buddies ran out, Jordan decided to stay in the building. After having some more fun, Jordan left the dance and no administration confronted him, at the time he was not in trouble everything was fine… or so he thought.

However, the following Monday, the boys who participated were called down to the administration office and each given six hours of community service, picking up trash around Bingham. If they didn’t finish before September 20 they were not be permitted to attend homecoming. Although, Jordan isn’t holding any grudges toward the administration and actually agrees with the new dress code. Jordan said, “I was just being stupid.” and thinks it is fair that no shirt equals no dance.